Modular stackable equipment rack

ABSTRACT

A stackable equipment rack system, including separate modular racks, that enables equipment to be mounted in the rack system continuously along the entire height of the rack system, including at the junction between the stacked racks.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to racks, and more specifically, to racks for mounting electronic and other equipment.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Equipment racks for mounting electronic equipment have existed in many forms for years. In cases where more than one rack is used, it is often desirable to stack the racks on top of each other so as to minimize the amount of floor space occupied by the rack, or to fit the rack in a closet with limited floor space.

While stackable equipment rack systems are known, a drawback of these known systems is the discontinuity created at the junction of the racks. Often, such racks will have floor or top structures in the rack that occupy space. Consequently, when the racks are stacked, there is a space created at the top of the bottom rack and at the bottom of the top rack where equipment cannot be received in the rack. This is a waste of rack space, and can be unsightly.

What is needed in the industry is a stackable equipment rack system that enables equipment to be mounted in the rack along the entire height of the rack, including at the junction between the stacked racks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the need of the industry for a stackable equipment rack system, including separate modular racks, that enables equipment to be mounted in the rack system continuously along the entire height of the rack system, including at the junction between the stacked racks.

In an embodiment a modular equipment rack includes a first rack and a second rack, each of the first rack and the second rack including a pair of front columns, a pair of rear columns, a pair of bottom side rails, a pair of top side rails, and a pair of rear rails, the rear columns spaced apart and coupled by the pair of rear rails, each of the rear columns coupled to a corresponding front column by a separate one of the bottom side rails and a separate one of the top side rails to define a generally c-shaped enclosure when viewed from the top. The rack has an open front side, and the first rack and the second rack are stacked with each front column of the first rack registered with a corresponding front column of the second rack so as to define an unobstructed front opening extending from a top end of the modular equipment rack to a bottom end of the modular equipment rack.

In an embodiment each of the front columns defines a plurality of threaded apertures for receiving fasteners to fasten panels or equipment to a front side of the rack, the apertures being substantially evenly spaced along each of the front columns. The substantially even spacing of the threaded apertures in the each of the front columns may extend across an interface between the first rack and the second rack.

In an embodiment, an equipment rack includes a first rack including a pair of front columns, a pair of rear columns, a pair of bottom side rails, a pair of top side rails, and a pair of rear rails, the rear columns spaced apart and coupled by the pair of rear rails, each of the rear columns coupled to a corresponding front column by a separate one of the bottom side rails and a separate one of the top side rails to define a generally c-shaped enclosure when viewed from the top, the rack having an open front side defining an unobstructed front opening extending from a top end of the rack to a bottom end of the rack. Each of the front columns may define a plurality of threaded apertures for receiving fasteners to fasten panels or equipment to a front side of the rack, the apertures being substantially evenly spaced along each of the front columns.

In an embodiment, a modular equipment rack system includes a plurality of separate modular racks, each of the modular racks including a pair of front columns, a pair of rear columns, a pair of bottom side rails, a pair of top side rails, and a pair of rear rails, the rear columns spaced apart and coupled by the pair of rear rails, each of the rear columns coupled to a corresponding front column by a separate one of the bottom side rails and a separate one of the top side rails to define a generally c-shaped enclosure when viewed from the top. Each modular rack has an open front side, and the plurality of modular racks can be stacked with each front column registered with a front column of a vertically adjacent rack so as to define an unobstructed front opening extending from a top end of the stacked modular racks to a bottom end of the stacked modular racks.

In an embodiment, each of the front columns defines a plurality of threaded apertures for receiving fasteners to fasten panels or equipment to a front side of the rack, the apertures being substantially evenly spaced along each of the front columns. In an embodiment, the substantially even spacing of the threaded apertures in the each of the front columns extends across an interface between the vertically adjacent racks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The embodiments of the present invention may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a modular rack according to an embodiment of the invention, including shelves and blanking panels;

FIG. 1 a is an isometric view of the modular rack of FIG. 1, with the shelves and blanking panels omitted;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a modular portion of the rack of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial isometric view of the rack portion of FIG. 2 taken at inset 3 of FIG. 2, depicting the connection of the side rail and rear rail with the rear column, and with the side rail and rear rail shown in phantom for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a partial isometric view of the rack portion of FIG. 2 taken at inset 4 of FIG. 2, depicting the connection of the side rail and front column;

FIG. 5 is a partial isometric view of the rack of FIG. 1 a taken at inset 5 of FIG. 1 a, depicting the interface of the rack portions at the front column; and

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the rack of FIG. 1 a.

While the present invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the present invention to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Rack system 10, as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 1 a, generally includes first rack 12 and second rack 14. First rack 12, as depicted in FIGS. 1, 1 a, and 2, and second rack 14 each, generally include front columns 16, 18, rear columns 20, 22, bottom side rails 24, 26, top side rails 28, 30, bottom rear rail 32, and top rear rail 34. As depicted in FIGS. 1, 1 a, 2, and 4, front columns 16 and 18 define a plurality of generally evenly spaced threaded apertures 36 for receiving threaded fasteners 38 to fasten blanking panels 40, shelves 42, or equipment (not depicted) in rack system 10. Front column 16 is coupled to rear column 20 with bottom side rail 24 and top side rail 28, and front column 18 is coupled to rear column 22 with bottom side rail 26 and top side rail 30. These may be bolted connections as depicted in FIG. 3, with bolts 44 extending through corresponding apertures in the members, or welded or any other type of connection as desired. Each of the front columns 16, 18, and the rear columns 20, 22, may define a plurality of side apertures 46 for attaching first rack 12 to a laterally adjacent rack (not depicted) with fasteners. Bottom rear rail 32 and top rear rail 34 may define a plurality of keyhole apertures 48 and a plurality of elongate apertures 50 for receiving fasteners (not depicted) to mount rack 10 to a wall if desired. Bottom rails 24, 26, may define apertures to receive leveling feet 52 such that rack 10, first rack 12 or second rack 14 may be rested on a floor and leveled.

As depicted in FIGS. 1 a and 5, racks 12, 14, may be stacked and bolted together with bolts 54 extending through apertures in bottom side rails 24, 26, and top side rails 28, 30, so as to form rack 10 as depicted in FIG. 1 a. As depicted in FIG. 1 a, the front opening 56 of rack 10 is uninterrupted for the entire height H of rack 10, due to the general C-shape of rack 10 as viewed from the top as depicted in FIG. 6.

Further, as depicted in FIG. 1 a, when racks 12, 14, are stacked, apertures 36 can be evenly spaced across interface 60 between rack 12 and rack 14, thereby enabling equipment or blanking panels to be installed immediately adjacent, or even across interface 60.

The foregoing descriptions present numerous specific details that provide a thorough understanding of various embodiments of the invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that various embodiments, having been disclosed herein, may be practiced without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, components as are known to those of ordinary skill in the art have not been described in detail herein in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. It is to be understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of various embodiments are set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of various embodiments, this disclosure is illustrative only. Other embodiments may be constructed that nevertheless employ the principles and spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the invention.

For purposes of interpreting the claims for the present invention, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A modular equipment rack comprising: a first rack and a second rack, each of the first rack and the second rack including a pair of front columns, a pair of rear columns, a pair of bottom side rails, a pair of top side rails, and a pair of rear rails, the rear columns spaced apart and coupled by the pair of rear rails, each of the rear columns coupled to a corresponding front column by a separate one of the bottom side rails and a separate one of the top side rails to define a generally c-shaped enclosure when viewed from the top, the rack having an open front side, the first rack and the second rack stacked with each front column of the first rack registered with a corresponding front column of the second rack so as to define an unobstructed front opening extending from a top end of the modular equipment rack to a bottom end of the modular equipment rack.
 2. The modular equipment rack of claim 1, wherein each of the front columns defines a plurality of threaded apertures for receiving fasteners to fasten panels or equipment to a front side of the rack, the apertures being substantially evenly spaced along each of the front columns.
 3. The modular equipment rack of claim 2, wherein the substantially even spacing of the threaded apertures in the each of the front columns extends across an interface between the first rack and the second rack.
 4. An equipment rack comprising: a first rack including a pair of front columns, a pair of rear columns, a pair of bottom side rails, a pair of top side rails, and a pair of rear rails, the rear columns spaced apart and coupled by the pair of rear rails, each of the rear columns coupled to a corresponding front column by a separate one of the bottom side rails and a separate one of the top side rails to define a generally c-shaped enclosure when viewed from the top, the rack having an open front side defining an unobstructed front opening extending from a top end of the rack to a bottom end of the rack.
 5. The equipment rack of claim 4, wherein each of the front columns defines a plurality of threaded apertures for receiving fasteners to fasten panels or equipment to a front side of the rack, the apertures being substantially evenly spaced along each of the front columns.
 6. A modular equipment rack system comprising: a plurality of separate modular racks, each of the modular racks including a pair of front columns, a pair of rear columns, a pair of bottom side rails, a pair of top side rails, and a pair of rear rails, the rear columns spaced apart and coupled by the pair of rear rails, each of the rear columns coupled to a corresponding front column by a separate one of the bottom side rails and a separate one of the top side rails to define a generally c-shaped enclosure when viewed from the top, each modular rack having an open front side, the plurality of modular racks stacked with each front column registered with a front column of a vertically adjacent rack so as to define an unobstructed front opening extending from a top end of the stacked modular racks to a bottom end of the stacked modular racks.
 7. The modular equipment rack system of claim 6, wherein each of the front columns defines a plurality of threaded apertures for receiving fasteners to fasten panels or equipment to a front side of the rack, the apertures being substantially evenly spaced along each of the front columns.
 8. The modular equipment rack system of claim 7, wherein the substantially even spacing of the threaded apertures in the each of the front columns extends across an interface between the vertically adjacent racks. 